Navigating digital images using detail-in-context lenses

ABSTRACT

A method for navigating a computer generated original image presented on a display screen, comprising: displaying a first region of the original image; distorting the original image to produce a presentation having a distorted region for the first region and displaying the presentation; receiving a signal from a user to select a second region of the original image through the presentation; and, displaying the second region.

This application claims priority from Canadian Patent Application No.2,449,888, filed Nov. 17, 2003, the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of computer graphics processing, andmore specifically, to a method and system for navigating digital imagesusing detail-in-context lenses.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Computer graphics systems are typically used to examine and performoperations on large, detailed, digital images. Examples of such tasksinclude an artist editing a high-resolution image for print publication,an image analyst examining an aerial photograph, and a silicon chipdesigner examining chip layouts. Often, users of such graphics systemsneed to zoom-in to specific regions of a particular image in order torecognize detail. When zoomed-in to a specific region of interest, oftenthe entire image will not fit on the display screen of the system andhence a large portion of the image may no longer be visible to the user.If the user, still zoomed-in, wants to navigate to a different region ofthe image, it will be necessary to either first zoom-out, then zoom backin, or to pan repeatedly until the new region of interest is located.Both of these operations are slow and time consuming. Thus, traditionalmethods of navigating large images such as panning and zooming areinefficient. This is an example of what has been referred to as the“screen real estate problem”.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,271,854 to Light discloses a method for navigating inthree-dimensional graphic scenes. In Light, a user may zoom-in to anobject in a scene by clicking on the object. To zoom-out to the originalscene, an “opportunistic” control icon is provided. By clicking on thiscontrol, the original scene is redisplayed. The user may then selectanother object in the original scene to zoom-in on. However, the screenreal estate problem remains evident in Light. When viewing an objectwhich has been zoomed-in, the relationship between that object and otherobjects in the original scene may be lost to the user.

A need therefore exists for an improved method and system for navigatingdigital images. Consequently, it is an object of the present inventionto obviate or mitigate at least some of the above mentioneddisadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method fornavigating a computer generated original image presented on a displayscreen, comprising: displaying a first region of the original image;distorting the original image to produce a presentation having adistorted region for the first region and displaying the presentation;receiving a signal from a user to select a second region of the originalimage through the presentation; and, displaying the second region.

Preferably, the presentation has a distorted region for the secondregion. The distorted region may include a focal region and/or ashoulder region.

Preferably, the distorted regions provide the user with detailedinformation for the first and second regions of the original image.

Preferably, each distorted region includes a focal region for displayinga portion of the first and second regions, respectively. The focalregion may be a point.

Preferably, the first region, the second region, each focal region, andthe presentation are displayed at respective predetermined scales.

Preferably, the scales of the first region, the second region, and eachfocal region are greater than the scale of the presentation.

Preferably, the scales of the first region, the second region, and eachfocal region are approximately equal. However, these scales may also beuser selectable.

Preferably, the step of displaying the presentation includes zooming-outto the scale of the presentation from the scale of the first region.

Preferably, the step of displaying the second region includes zooming-into the scale of the second region from the scale of the presentation.

Preferably, the zooming-out is progressive. The zooming-out may also beinteractive.

Preferably, the zooming-in is progressive. The zooming-in may also beinteractive.

Preferably, the scale of the focal region remains constant during thezooming-out.

Preferably, the scale of the focal region remains constant during thezooming-in.

Preferably, the distorting includes: establishing a lens surface for thedistorted region; and, transforming the original image by applying adistortion function defining the lens surface to the original image.

Preferably, the transforming includes projecting the presentation onto aplane.

Preferably, the signal includes a location for the lens surface withinthe original image.

Preferably, the lens surface includes a direction for a perspectiveprojection for the lens surface.

Preferably, the establishing further includes displaying a graphicaluser interface (“GUI”) over the distorted region for adjusting the lenssurface by the user with an input device.

Preferably, the lens surface includes a focal region and a shoulderregion and the GUI includes at least one of: at least one icon foradjusting the lens surface; a slide bar icon for adjusting amagnification for the lens surface; a bounding rectangle icon with atleast one handle icon for adjusting a size and a shape for the focalregion; a bounding rectangle icon with at least one handle icon foradjusting a size and a shape for the shoulder region; a move icon foradjusting a location for the lens surface within the original image; apickup icon for adjusting a location for the shoulder region within theoriginal image; and, a fold icon for adjusting a location for the focalregion relative to the shoulder region.

Preferably, the lens surface is a fisheye lens surface.

Preferably, the original image is a multi-dimensional image.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a methodfor navigating a computer generated original image presented on adisplay, comprising: displaying an original image; receiving a signalfrom a user to select a region of the original image; distorting theoriginal image to produce a presentation having a distorted region forthe region of the original image and displaying the presentation; and,displaying the region of the original image.

Preferably, the distorted region provides the user with detailedinformation for the region of the original image selected by the user.

Preferably, the distorted region includes a focal region for displayinga portion of the region of the original image.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a methodfor navigating a computer generated original image presented on adisplay, comprising: displaying a region of an original image; receivinga signal from a user to select the original image; distorting theoriginal image to produce a presentation having a distorted region forthe region of the original image and displaying the presentation; and,displaying the original image.

Preferably, the distorted region provides the user with detailedinformation for the region of the original image.

Preferably, the distorted region includes a focal region for displayinga portion of the region of the original image.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention may best be understood by referring to thefollowing description and accompanying drawings. In the description anddrawings, like numerals refer to like structures or processes. In thedrawings:

FIG. 1 is a graphical representation of the geometry for constructing athree-dimensional perspective viewing frustum, relative to an x, y, zcoordinate system, in accordance with known elastic presentation spacegraphics technology;

FIG. 2 is a graphical representation of the geometry of a presentationin accordance with known elastic presentation space graphics technology;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a data processing system adaptedfor implementing an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 a partial screen capture illustrating a GUI having lens controlelements for user interaction with detail-in-context data presentationsin accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a screen capture illustrating a presentation having adetail-in-context fisheye lens in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 6 is a screen capture illustrating a presentation of a first regionof an original digital image or representation in accordance with anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a screen capture illustrating a detail-in-contextpresentation, having a detail-in-context fisheye lens, for the originalimage in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a screen capture illustrating a detail-in-context presentationhaving a relocated fisheye lens in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 9 is a screen capture illustrating a presentation of a secondregion of the original digital image or representation in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a screen capture illustrating a presentation having adetail-in-context lens and an associated GUI for an original digitalimage in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a screen capture illustrating a presentation of a firstzoomed-in region of the original digital image in accordance with analternate embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a screen capture illustrating a presentation of a secondzoomed-in region of the original digital image in accordance with analternate embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 13 is a screen capture illustrating a presentation having arelocated detail-in-context lens and an associated GUI for the secondzoomed-in region of the original digital image in accordance with analternate embodiment of the invention; and,

FIG. 14 is a flow chart illustrating a method for navigating a computergenerated original image presented on a display screen in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth toprovide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it isunderstood that the invention may be practiced without these specificdetails. In other instances, well-known software, circuits, structuresand techniques have not been described or shown in detail in order notto obscure the invention. The term “data processing system” is usedherein to refer to any machine for processing data, including thecomputer systems and network arrangements described herein.

The “screen real estate problem” mentioned above generally ariseswhenever large amounts of information are to be displayed on a displayscreen of limited size. Known tools to address this problem includepanning and zooming. While these tools are suitable for a large numberof visual display applications, they become less effective wheresections of the visual information are spatially related, such as inlayered maps and three-dimensional representations, for example. In thistype of information display, panning and zooming are not as effective asmuch of the context of the panned or zoomed display may be hidden.

A recent solution to this problem is the application of“detail-in-context” presentation techniques. Detail-in-context is themagnification of a particular region-of-interest (the “focal region” or“detail”) in a data presentation while preserving visibility of thesurrounding information (the “context”). This technique hasapplicability to the display of large surface area media (e.g. digitalmaps) on computer screens of variable size including graphicsworkstations, laptop computers, personal digital assistants (“PDAs”),and cell phones.

In the detail-in-context discourse, differentiation is often madebetween the terms “representation” and “presentation”. A representationis a formal system, or mapping, for specifying raw information or datathat is stored in a computer or data processing system. For example, adigital map of a city is a representation of raw data including streetnames and the relative geographic location of streets and utilities.Such a representation may be displayed visually on a computer screen orprinted on paper. On the other hand, a presentation is a spatialorganization of a given representation that is appropriate for the taskat hand. Thus, a presentation of a representation organizes such thingsas the point of view and the relative emphasis of different parts orregions of the representation. For example, a digital map of a city maybe presented with a region magnified to reveal street names.

In general, a detail-in-context presentation may be considered as adistorted view (or distortion) of a portion of the originalrepresentation or image where the distortion is the result of theapplication of a “lens” like distortion function to the originalrepresentation. A detailed review of various detail-in-contextpresentation techniques such as “Elastic Presentation Space” (“EPS”) (or“Pliable Display Technology” (“PDT”)) may be found in a publication byMarianne S. T. Carpendale, entitled “A Framework for ElasticPresentation Space” (Carpendale, Marianne S. T., A Framework for ElasticPresentation Space (Burnaby, British Columbia: Simon Fraser University,1999)), and incorporated herein by reference.

In general, detail-in-context data presentations are characterized bymagnification of areas of an image where detail is desired, incombination with compression of a restricted range of areas of theremaining information (i.e. the context), the result typically givingthe appearance of a lens having been applied to the display surface.Using the techniques described by Carpendale, points in a representationare displaced in three dimensions and a perspective projection is usedto display the points on a two-dimensional presentation display. Thus,when a lens is applied to a two-dimensional continuous surfacerepresentation, for example, the resulting presentation appears to bethree-dimensional. In other words, the lens transformation appears tohave stretched the continuous surface in a third dimension. In EPSgraphics technology, a two-dimensional visual representation is placedonto a surface; this surface is placed in three-dimensional space; thesurface, containing the representation, is viewed through perspectiveprojection; and the surface is manipulated to effect the reorganizationof image details. The presentation transformation is separated into twosteps: surface manipulation or distortion and perspective projection.

FIG. 1 is a graphical representation 100 of the geometry forconstructing a three-dimensional (“3D”) perspective viewing frustum 220,relative to an x, y, z coordinate system, in accordance with knownelastic presentation space (EPS) graphics technology. In EPS technology,detail-in-context views of two-dimensional (“2D”) visual representationsare created with sight-line aligned distortions of a 2D informationpresentation surface within a 3D perspective viewing frustum 220. InEPS, magnification of regions of interest and the accompanyingcompression of the contextual region to accommodate this change in scaleare produced by the movement of regions of the surface towards theviewpoint (“VP”) 240 located at the apex of the pyramidal shape 220containing the frustum. The process of projecting these transformedlayouts via a perspective projection results in a new 2D layout whichincludes the zoomed and compressed regions. The use of the thirddimension and perspective distortion to provide magnification in EPSprovides a meaningful metaphor for the process of distorting theinformation presentation surface. The 3D manipulation of the informationpresentation surface in such a system is an intermediate step in theprocess of creating a new 2D layout of the information.

FIG. 2 is a graphical representation 200 of the geometry of apresentation in accordance with known EPS graphics technology. EPSgraphics technology typically employs viewer-aligned perspectiveprojections to produce detail-in-context presentations in a referenceview plane 201 which may be viewed on a display. Undistorted 2D datapoints are located in a basal plane 210 of a 3D perspective viewingvolume or frustum 220 which is defined by extreme rays 221 and 222 andthe basal plane 210. The VP 240 is generally located above the centrepoint of the basal plane 210 and reference view plane (“RVP”) 201.Points in the basal plane 210 are displaced upward onto a distortedsurface 230 which is defined by a general 3D distortion function (i.e. adetail-in-context distortion basis function). The direction of theperspective projection corresponding to the distorted surface 230 isindicated by the line FPo-FP 231 drawn from a point FPo 232 in the basalplane 210 through the point FP 233 which corresponds to the focus orfocal region or focal point of the distorted surface 230. Typically, theperspective projection has a direction 231 that is viewer-aligned (i.e.,the points FPo 232, FP 233, and VP 240 are collinear).

EPS is applicable to multidimensional data and is well suited toimplementation on a computer for dynamic detail-in-context display on anelectronic display surface such as a monitor. In the case of twodimensional data, EPS is typically characterized by magnification ofareas of an image where detail is desired 233, in combination withcompression of a restricted range of areas of the remaining information(i.e. the context) 234, the end result typically giving the appearanceof a lens 230 having been applied to the display surface. The areas ofthe lens 230 where compression occurs may be referred to as the“shoulder” 234 of the lens 230. The area of the representationtransformed by the lens may be referred to as the “lensed area”. Thelensed area thus includes the focal region and the shoulder. Toreiterate, the source image or representation to be viewed is located inthe basal plane 210. Magnification 233 and compression 234 are achievedthrough elevating elements of the source image relative to the basalplane 210, and then projecting the resultant distorted surface onto thereference view plane 201. EPS performs detail-in-context presentation ofn-dimensional data through the use of a procedure wherein the data ismapped into a region in an (n+1) dimensional space, manipulated throughperspective projections in the (n+1) dimensional space, and then finallytransformed back into n-dimensional space for presentation. EPS hasnumerous advantages over conventional zoom, pan, and scrolltechnologies, including the capability of preserving the visibility ofinformation outside 234 the local region of interest 233.

For example, and referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in two dimensions, EPS canbe implemented through the projection of an image onto a reference plane201 in the following manner. The source image or representation islocated on a basal plane 210, and those regions of interest 233 of theimage for which magnification is desired are elevated so as to move themcloser to a reference plane situated between the reference viewpoint 240and the reference view plane 201. Magnification of the focal region 233closest to the RVP 201 varies inversely with distance from the RVP 201.As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, compression of regions 234 outside the focalregion 233 is a function of both distance from the RVP 201, and thegradient of the function describing the vertical distance from the RVP201 with respect to horizontal distance from the focal region 233. Theresultant combination of magnification 233 and compression 234 of theimage as seen from the reference viewpoint 240 results in a lens-likeeffect similar to that of a magnifying glass applied to the image.Hence, the various functions used to vary the magnification andcompression of the source image via vertical displacement from the basalplane 210 are described as lenses, lens types, or lens functions. Lensfunctions that describe basic lens types with point and circular focalregions, as well as certain more complex lenses and advancedcapabilities such as folding, have previously been described byCarpendale.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a data processing system 300 adapted toimplement an embodiment of the invention. The data processing system 300is suitable for implementing EPS technology, for displayingdetail-in-context presentations of representations, and for navigatingdigital images in conjunction with a detail-in-context graphical userinterface (“GUI”) 400, as described below. The data processing system300 includes an input device 310, a central processing unit (“CPU”) 320,memory 330, and a display 340. The input device 310 may include akeyboard, mouse, trackball, or similar device. The CPU 320 may includededicated coprocessors and memory devices. The memory 330 may includeRAM, ROM, databases, or disk devices. And, the display 340 may include acomputer screen, terminal device, or a hardcopy producing output devicesuch as a printer or plotter. The data processing system 300 has storedtherein data representing sequences of instructions which when executedcause the method described herein to be performed. Of course, the dataprocessing system 300 may contain additional software and hardware adescription of which is not necessary for understanding the invention.

As mentioned, detail-in-context presentations of data using techniquessuch as pliable surfaces, as described by Carpendale, are useful inpresenting large amounts of information on limited-size displaysurfaces. Detail-in-context views allow magnification of a particularregion-of-interest (the “focal region”) 233 in a data presentation whilepreserving visibility of the surrounding information 210. In thefollowing, a GUI 400 is described having lens control elements that canbe implemented in software and applied to the editing of multi-layerimages and to the control of detail-in-context data presentations. Thesoftware can be loaded into and run by the data processing system 300 ofFIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is a partial screen capture illustrating a GUI 400 having lenscontrol elements for user interaction with detail-in-context datapresentations in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.Detail-in-context data presentations are characterized by magnificationof areas of an image where detail is desired, in combination withcompression of a restricted range of areas of the remaining information(i.e. the context), the end result typically giving the appearance of alens having been applied to the display screen surface. This lens 410includes a “focal region” 420 having high magnification, a surrounding“shoulder region” 430 where information is typically visibly compressed,and a “base” 412 surrounding the shoulder region 430 and defining theextent of the lens 410. In FIG. 4, the lens 410 is shown with a circularshaped base 412 (or outline) and with a focal region 420 lying near thecenter of the lens 410. However, the lens 410 and focal region 420 mayhave any desired shape. As mentioned above, the base of the lens 412 maybe coextensive with the focal region 420.

In general, the GUI 400 has lens control elements that, in combination,provide for the interactive control of the lens 410. The effectivecontrol of the characteristics of the lens 410 by a user (i.e. dynamicinteraction with a detail-in-context lens) is advantageous. At any giventime, one or more of these lens control elements may be made visible tothe user on the display surface 340 by appearing as overlay icons on thelens 410. Interaction with each element is performed via the motion ofan input or pointing device 310 (e.g. mouse), with the motion resultingin an appropriate change in the corresponding lens characteristic. Aswill be described, selection of which lens control element is activelycontrolled by the motion of the pointing device 310 at any given time isdetermined by the proximity of the icon representing the pointing device310 (e.g. cursor) on the display surface 340 to the appropriatecomponent of the lens 410. For example, “dragging” of the pointingdevice at the periphery of the bounding rectangle of the lens base 412causes a corresponding change in the size of the lens 410 (i.e.“resizing”). Thus, the GUI 400 provides the user with a visualrepresentation of which lens control element is being adjusted throughthe display of one or more corresponding icons.

For ease of understanding, the following discussion will be in thecontext of using a two-dimensional pointing device 310 that is a mouse,but it will be understood that the invention may be practiced with other2D or 3D (or even greater numbers of dimensions) pointing devicesincluding a trackball and keyboard.

A mouse 310 controls the position of a cursor icon 401 that is displayedon the display screen 340. The cursor 401 is moved by moving the mouse310 over a flat surface, such as the top of a desk, in the desireddirection of movement of the cursor 401. Thus, the two-dimensionalmovement of the mouse 310 on the flat surface translates into acorresponding two-dimensional movement of the cursor 401 on the displayscreen 340.

A mouse 310 typically has one or more finger actuated control buttons(i.e. mouse buttons). While the mouse buttons can be used for differentfunctions such as selecting a menu option pointed at by the cursor 401,the disclosed invention may use a single mouse button to “select” a lens410 and to trace the movement of the cursor 401 along a desired path.Specifically, to select a lens 410, the cursor 401 is first locatedwithin the extent of the lens 410. In other words, the cursor 401 is“pointed” at the lens 410. Next, the mouse button is depressed andreleased. That is, the mouse button is “clicked”. Selection is thus apoint and click operation. To trace the movement of the cursor 401, thecursor 401 is located at the desired starting location, the mouse buttonis depressed to signal the computer 320 to activate a lens controlelement, and the mouse 310 is moved while maintaining the buttondepressed. After the desired path has been traced, the mouse button isreleased. This procedure is often referred to as “clicking” and“dragging” (i.e. a click and drag operation). It will be understood thata predetermined key on a keyboard 310 could also be used to activate amouse click or drag. In the following, the term “clicking” will refer tothe depression of a mouse button indicating a selection by the user andthe term “dragging” will refer to the subsequent motion of the mouse 310and cursor 401 without the release of the mouse button.

The GUI 400 may include the following lens control elements: move,pickup, resize base, resize focus, fold, magnify, zoom, and scoop. Eachof these lens control elements has at least one lens control icon oralternate cursor icon associated with it. In general, when a lens 410 isselected by a user through a point and click operation, the followinglens control icons may be displayed over the lens 410: pickup icon 450,base outline icon 412, base bounding rectangle icon 411, focal regionbounding rectangle icon 421, handle icons 481, 482, 491, 492 magnifyslide bar icon 440, zoom icon 495, and scoop slide bar icon 1040 (seeFIG. 10). Typically, these icons are displayed simultaneously afterselection of the lens 410. In addition, when the cursor 401 is locatedwithin the extent of a selected lens 410, an alternate cursor icon 460,470, 480, 490, 495 may be displayed over the lens 410 to replace thecursor 401 or may be displayed in combination with the cursor 401. Theselens control elements, corresponding icons, and their effects on thecharacteristics of a lens 410 are described below with reference to FIG.4.

In general, when a lens 410 is selected by a point and click operation,bounding rectangle icons 411, 421 are displayed surrounding the base 412and focal region 420 of the selected lens 410 to indicate that the lens410 has been selected. With respect to the bounding rectangles 411, 421one might view them as glass windows enclosing the lens base 412 andfocal region 420, respectively. The bounding rectangles 411, 421 includehandle icons 481, 482, 491, 492 allowing for direct manipulation of theenclosed base 412 and focal region 420 as will be explained below. Thus,the bounding rectangles 411, 421 not only inform the user that the lens410 has been selected, but also provide the user with indications as towhat manipulation operations might be possible for the selected lens 410though use of the displayed handles 481, 482, 491, 492. Note that it iswell within the scope of the present invention to provide a boundingregion having a shape other than generally rectangular. Such a boundingregion could be of any of a number of shapes including oblong, oval,ovoid, conical, cubic, cylindrical, polyhedral, spherical, fisheye, etc.

Moreover, the cursor 401 provides a visual cue indicating the nature ofan available lens control element. As such, the cursor 401 willgenerally change in form by simply pointing to a different lens controlicon 450, 412, 411, 421, 481, 482, 491, 492, 440, 1040. For example,when resizing the base 412 of a lens 410 using a corner handle 491, thecursor 401 will change form to a resize icon 490 once it is pointed at(i.e. positioned over) the corner handle 491. The cursor 401 will remainin the form of the resize icon 490 until the cursor 401 has been movedaway from the corner handle 491.

Lateral movement of a lens 410 is provided by the move lens controlelement of the GUI 400. This functionality is accomplished by the userfirst selecting the lens 410, 610 through a point and click operation.Then, the user points to a point within the lens 410 that is other thana point lying on a lens control icon 450, 412, 411, 421, 481, 482, 491,492 440, 1040. When the cursor 401 is so located, a move icon 460 isdisplayed over the lens 410 to replace the cursor 401 or may bedisplayed in combination with the cursor 401. The move icon 460 not onlyinforms the user that the lens 410 may be moved, but also provides theuser with indications as to what movement operations are possible forthe selected lens 410. For example, the move icon 460 may includearrowheads indicating up, down, left, and right motion. Next, the lens410 is moved by a click and drag operation in which the user clicks anddrags the lens 410 to the desired position on the screen 340 and thenreleases the mouse button 310. The lens 410 is locked in its newposition until a further pickup and move operation is performed.

Lateral movement of a lens 410 is also provided by the pickup lenscontrol element of the GUI. This functionality is accomplished by theuser first selecting the lens 410 through a point and click operation.As mentioned above, when the lens 410 is selected a pickup icon 450 isdisplayed over the lens 410 near the centre of the lens 410. Typically,the pickup icon 450 will be a crosshairs. In addition, a base outline412 is displayed over the lens 410 representing the base 412 of the lens410. The crosshairs 450 and lens outline 412 not only inform the userthat the lens has been selected, but also provides the user with anindication as to the pickup operation that is possible for the selectedlens 410. Next, the user points at the crosshairs 450 with the cursor401. Then, the lens outline 412 is moved by a click and drag operationin which the user clicks and drags the crosshairs 450 to the desiredposition on the screen 340 and then releases the mouse button 310. Thefull lens 410 is then moved to the new position and is locked thereuntil a further pickup operation is performed. In contrast to the moveoperation described above, with the pickup operation, it is the outline412 of the lens 410 that the user repositions rather than the full lens410.

Resizing of the base 412 (or outline) of a lens 410 is provided by theresize base lens control element of the GUI. After the lens 410 isselected, a bounding rectangle icon 411 is displayed surrounding thebase 412. For a rectangular shaped base 412, the bounding rectangle icon411 may be coextensive with the perimeter of the base 412. The boundingrectangle 411 includes handles 491, 492. These handles 491, 492 can beused to stretch the base 412 taller or shorter, wider or narrower, orproportionally larger or smaller. The corner handles 491 will keep theproportions the same while changing the size. The middle handles 492(see FIG. 10) will make the base 412 taller or shorter, wider ornarrower. Resizing the base 412 by the corner handles 491 will keep thebase 412 in proportion. Resizing the base 412 by the middle handles 492will change the proportions of the base 412. That is, the middle handles492 change the aspect ratio of the base 412 (i.e. the ratio between theheight and the width of the bounding rectangle 411 of the base 412).When a user points at a handle 491 with the cursor 401 a resize icon 490may be displayed over the handle 491 to replace the cursor 401 or may bedisplayed in combination with the cursor 401. The resize icon 490 notonly informs the user that the handle 491 may be selected, but alsoprovides the user with indications as to the resizing operations thatare possible with the selected handle. For example, the resize icon 490for a corner handle 491 may include arrows indicating proportionalresizing. The resize icon (not shown) for a middle handle 492 mayinclude arrows indicating width resizing or height resizing. Afterpointing at the desired handle 491, 492 the user would click and dragthe handle 491, 492 until the desired shape and size for the base 412 isreached. Once the desired shape and size are reached, the user wouldrelease the mouse button 310. The base 412 of the lens 410 is thenlocked in its new size and shape until a further base resize operationis performed.

Resizing of the focal region 420 of a lens 410 is provided by the resizefocus lens control element of the GUI. After the lens 410 is selected, abounding rectangle icon 421 is displayed surrounding the focal region420. For a rectangular shaped focal region 420, the bounding rectangleicon 421 may be coextensive with the perimeter of the focal region 420.The bounding rectangle 421 includes handles 481, 482. These handles 481,482 can be used to stretch the focal region 420 taller or shorter, wideror narrower, or proportionally larger or smaller. The corner handles 481will keep the proportions the same while changing the size. The middlehandles 482 will make the focal region 420 taller or shorter, wider ornarrower. Resizing the focal region 420 by the corner handles 481 willkeep the focal region 420 in proportion. Resizing the focal region 420by the middle handles 482 will change the proportions of the focalregion 420. That is, the middle handles 482 change the aspect ratio ofthe focal region 420 (i.e. the ratio between the height and the width ofthe bounding rectangle 421 of the focal region 420). When a user pointsat a handle 481, 482 with the cursor 401 a resize icon 480 may bedisplayed over the handle 481, 482 to replace the cursor 401 or may bedisplayed in combination with the cursor 401. The resize icon 480 notonly informs the user that a handle 481, 482 may be selected, but alsoprovides the user with indications as to the resizing operations thatare possible with the selected handle. For example, the resize icon 480for a corner handle 481 may include arrows indicating proportionalresizing. The resize icon 480 for a middle handle 482 may include arrowsindicating width resizing or height resizing. After pointing at thedesired handle 481, 482, the user would click and drag the handle 481,482 until the desired shape and size for the focal region 420 isreached. Once the desired shape and size are reached, the user wouldrelease the mouse button 310. The focal region 420 is then locked in itsnew size and shape until a further focus resize operation is performed.

Folding of the focal region 420 of a lens 410 is provided by the foldcontrol element of the GUI. In general, control of the degree anddirection of folding (i.e. skewing of the viewer aligned vector 231 asdescribed by Carpendale) is accomplished by a click and drag operationon a point 471, other than a handle 481, 482, on the bounding rectangle421 surrounding the focal region 420. The direction of folding isdetermined by the direction in which the point 471 is dragged. Thedegree of folding is determined by the magnitude of the translation ofthe cursor 401 during the drag. In general, the direction and degree offolding corresponds to the relative displacement of the focus 420 withrespect to the lens base 410. In other words, and referring to FIG. 2,the direction and degree of folding corresponds to the displacement ofthe point FP 233 relative to the point FPo 232, where the vector joiningthe points FPo 232 and FP 233 defines the viewer aligned vector 231. Inparticular, after the lens 410 is selected, a bounding rectangle icon421 is displayed surrounding the focal region 420. The boundingrectangle 421 includes handles 481, 482. When a user points at a point471, other than a handle 481, 482, on the bounding rectangle 421surrounding the focal region 420 with the cursor 401, a fold icon 470may be displayed over the point 471 to replace the cursor 401 or may bedisplayed in combination with the cursor 401. The fold icon 470 not onlyinforms the user that a point 471 on the bounding rectangle 421 may beselected, but also provides the user with indications as to what foldoperations are possible. For example, the fold icon 470 may includearrowheads indicating up, down, left, and right motion. By choosing apoint 471, other than a handle 481, 482, on the bounding rectangle 421 auser may control the degree and direction of folding. To control thedirection of folding, the user would click on the point 471 and drag inthe desired direction of folding. To control the degree of folding, theuser would drag to a greater or lesser degree in the desired directionof folding. Once the desired direction and degree of folding is reached,the user would release the mouse button 310. The lens 410 is then lockedwith the selected fold until a further fold operation is performed.

Magnification of the lens 410 is provided by the magnify lens controlelement of the GUI. After the lens 410 is selected, the magnify controlis presented to the user as a slide bar icon 440 near or adjacent to thelens 410 and typically to one side of the lens 410. Sliding the bar 441of the slide bar 440 results in a proportional change in themagnification of the lens 410. The slide bar 440 not only informs theuser that magnification of the lens 410 may be selected, but alsoprovides the user with an indication as to what level of magnificationis possible. The slide bar 440 includes a bar 441 that may be slid upand down, or left and right, to adjust and indicate the level ofmagnification. To control the level of magnification, the user wouldclick on the bar 441 of the slide bar 440 and drag in the direction ofdesired magnification level. Once the desired level of magnification isreached, the user would release the mouse button 310. The lens 410 isthen locked with the selected magnification until a furthermagnification operation is performed. In general, the focal region 420is an area of the lens 410 having constant magnification (i.e. if thefocal region is a plane). Again referring to FIGS. 1 and 2,magnification of the focal region 420, 233 varies inversely with thedistance from the focal region 420, 233 to the reference view plane(RVP) 201. Magnification of areas lying in the shoulder region 430 ofthe lens 410 also varies inversely with their distance from the RVP 201.Thus, magnification of areas lying in the shoulder region 430 will rangefrom unity at the base 412 to the level of magnification of the focalregion 420.

Zoom functionality is provided by the zoom lens control element of theGUI. Referring to FIG. 2, the zoom lens control element, for example,allows a user to quickly navigate to a region of interest 233 within acontinuous view of a larger presentation 210 and then zoom-in to thatregion of interest 233 for detailed viewing or editing. Referring toFIG. 4, the combined presentation area covered by the focal region 420and shoulder region 430 and surrounded by the base 412 may be referredto as the “extent of the lens”. Similarly, the presentation area coveredby the focal region 420 may be referred to as the “extent of the focalregion”. The extent of the lens may be indicated to a user by a basebounding rectangle 411 when the lens 410 is selected. The extent of thelens may also be indicated by an arbitrarily shaped figure that boundsor is coincident with the perimeter of the base 412. Similarly, theextent of the focal region may be indicated by a second boundingrectangle 421 or arbitrarily shaped figure. The zoom lens controlelement allows a user to: (a) “zoom-in” to the extent of the focalregion such that the extent of the focal region fills the display screen340 (i.e. “zoom to focal region extent”); (b) “zoom-in” to the extent ofthe lens such that the extent of the lens fills the display screen 340(i.e. “zoom to lens extent”); or, (c) “zoom-in” to the area lyingoutside of the extent of the focal region such that the area without thefocal region is magnified to the same level as the extent of the focalregion (i.e. “zoom to scale”).

In particular, after the lens 410 is selected, a bounding rectangle icon411 is displayed surrounding the base 412 and a bounding rectangle icon421 is displayed surrounding the focal region 420. Zoom functionality isaccomplished by the user first selecting the zoom icon 495 through apoint and click operation When a user selects zoom functionality, a zoomcursor icon 496 may be displayed to replace the cursor 401 or may bedisplayed in combination with the cursor 401. The zoom cursor icon 496provides the user with indications as to what zoom operations arepossible. For example, the zoom cursor icon 496 may include a magnifyingglass. By choosing a point within the extent of the focal region, withinthe extent of the lens, or without the extent of the lens, the user maycontrol the zoom function. To zoom-in to the extent of the focal regionsuch that the extent of the focal region fills the display screen 340(i.e. “zoom to focal region extent”), the user would point and clickwithin the extent of the focal region. To zoom-in to the extent of thelens such that the extent of the lens fills the display screen 340 (i.e.“zoom to lens extent”), the user would point and click within the extentof the lens. Or, to zoom-in to the presentation area without the extentof the focal region, such that the area without the extent of the focalregion is magnified to the same level as the extent of the focal region(i.e. “zoom to scale”), the user would point and click without theextent of the lens. After the point and click operation is complete, thepresentation is locked with the selected zoom until a further zoomoperation is performed.

Alternatively, rather than choosing a point within the extent of thefocal region, within the extent of the lens, or without the extent ofthe lens to select the zoom function, a zoom function menu with multipleitems (not shown) or multiple zoom function icons (not shown) may beused for zoom function selection. The zoom function menu may bepresented as a pull-down menu. The zoom function icons may be presentedin a toolbar 650 or adjacent to the lens 410 when the lens is selected.Individual zoom function menu items or zoom function icons may beprovided for each of the “zoom to focal region extent”, “zoom to lensextent”, and “zoom to scale” functions described above. In thisalternative, after the lens 410 is selected, a bounding rectangle icon411 may be displayed surrounding the base 412 and a bounding rectangleicon 421 may be displayed surrounding the focal region 420. Zoomfunctionality is accomplished by the user selecting a zoom function fromthe zoom function menu or via the zoom function icons using a point andclick operation. In this way, a zoom function may be selected withoutconsidering the position of the cursor 401 within the lens 410.

The concavity or “scoop” of the shoulder region 430 of the lens 410 isprovided by the scoop lens control element of the GUI. After the lens410 is selected, the scoop control is presented to the user as a slidebar icon 1040 (see FIG. 10) near or adjacent to the lens 410 andtypically below the lens 410. Sliding the bar 1041 of the slide bar 1040results in a proportional change in the concavity or scoop of theshoulder region 430 of the lens 410. The slide bar 1040 not only informsthe user that the shape of the shoulder region 430 of the lens 410 maybe selected, but also provides the user with an indication as to whatdegree of shaping is possible. The slide bar 1040 includes a bar 1041that may be slid left and right, or up and down, to adjust and indicatethe degree of scooping. To control the degree of scooping, the userwould click on the bar 1041 of the slide bar 1040 and drag in thedirection of desired scooping degree. Once the desired degree ofscooping is reached, the user would release the mouse button 310. Thelens 410 is then locked with the selected scoop until a further scoopingoperation is performed.

Advantageously, a user may choose to hide one or more lens control icons450, 412, 411, 421, 481, 482, 491, 492, 440, 495, 1040 shown in FIGS. 4and 6 from view so as not to impede the user's view of the image withinthe lens 410. This may be helpful, for example, during an editing ormove operation. A user may select this option through means such as amenu, toolbar, or lens property dialog box.

In addition, the GUI 400 maintains a record of control elementoperations such that the user may restore pre-operation presentations.This record of operations may be accessed by or presented to the userthrough “Undo” and “Redo” icons 497, 498, through a pull-down operationhistory menu (not shown), or through a toolbar.

Thus, detail-in-context data viewing techniques allow a user to viewmultiple levels of detail or resolution on one display 340. Theappearance of the data display or presentation is that of one or morevirtual lenses showing detail 233 within the context of a larger areaview 210. Using multiple lenses in detail-in-context data presentationsmay be used to compare two regions of interest at the same time. Foldingenhances this comparison by allowing the user to pull the regions ofinterest closer together. Moreover, using detail-in-context technologysuch as PDT, an area of interest can be magnified to pixel levelresolution, or to any level of detail available from the sourceinformation, for in-depth review. In accordance with the presentinvention, detail-in-context lenses and fisheye rendering techniques areused to navigate large digital images. The digital images may includegraphic images, maps, photographic images, or text documents, and thesource information may be in raster, vector, or text form.

For example, in order to view a selected object or area in detail, auser can define a lens 410 over the object using the GUI 400. The lens410 may be introduced to the original image to form the presentationthrough the use of a pull-down menu selection, tool bar icon, etc. Usinglens control elements for the GUI 400, such as move, pickup, resizebase, resize focus, fold, magnify, zoom, and scoop, as described above,the user adjusts the lens 410 for detailed viewing of the object orarea. Using the magnify lens control element, for example, the user maymagnify the focal region 420 of the lens 410 to pixel quality resolutionrevealing detailed information pertaining to the selected object orarea. That is, a base image (i.e., the image outside the extent of thelens) is displayed at a low resolution while a lens image (i.e., theimage within the extent of the lens) is displayed at a resolution basedon a user selected magnification 440, 441.

In operation, the data processing system 300 employs EPS techniques withan input device 310 and GUI 400 for selecting objects or areas fordetailed display to a user on a display screen 340. Data representing anoriginal image or representation is received by the CPU 320 of the dataprocessing system 300. Using EPS techniques, the CPU 320 processes thedata in accordance with instructions received from the user via an inputdevice 310 and GUI 400 to produce a detail-in-context presentation. Thepresentation is presented to the user on a display screen 340. It willbe understood that the CPU 320 may apply a transformation to theshoulder region 430 surrounding the region-of-interest 420 to affectblending or folding in accordance with EPS technology. For example, thetransformation may map the region-of-interest 420 and/or shoulder region430 to a predefined lens surface, defined by a transformation ordistortion function and having a variety of shapes, using EPStechniques. Or, the lens 410 may be simply coextensive with theregion-of-interest 420. (Blending and folding of lenses indetail-in-context presentations are described in United States PatentApplication Publication No. 2002/0044154 which is incorporated herein byreference.)

The lens control elements of the GUI 400 are adjusted by the user via aninput device 310 to control the characteristics of the lens 410 in thedetail-in-context presentation. Using an input device 310 such as amouse, a user adjusts parameters of the lens 410 using icons and scrollbars of the GUI 400 that are displayed over the lens 410 on the displayscreen 340. The user may also adjust parameters of the image of the fullscene. Signals representing input device 310 movements and selectionsare transmitted to the CPU 320 of the data processing system 300 wherethey are translated into instructions for lens control.

Moreover, the lens 410 may be added to the presentation before or afterthe object or area is selected. That is, the user may first add a lens410 to a presentation or the user may move a pre-existing lens intoplace over the selected object or area. The lens 410 may be introducedto the original image to form the presentation through the use of apull-down menu selection, tool bar icon, etc.

Advantageously, by using a detail-in-context lens 410 to select anobject or area for detailed information gathering, a user can view alarge area (i.e., outside the extent of the lens 410) while focusing inon a smaller area (or within the focal region 420 of the lens 410)surrounding the selected object. This makes it possible for a user toaccurately gather detailed information without losing visibility orcontext of the portion of the original image surrounding the selectedobject.

FIG. 5 is a screen capture illustrating a presentation 500 having adetail-in-context fisheye lens 510 in accordance with an embodiment ofthe invention. The method of navigating large images of the presentinvention employs the rendering technique of fisheye lens distortion asdescribed above. This rendering technique allows a two-dimensional imageto be warped or distorted, so that a region of interest 520 presented ona display screen 340 is magnified to a larger scale than the surroundingdata 540. The large scale area 520 and small scale area 540 are joinedby a continuously varying shoulder region 530 that maintains continuityof the data. An example of such a distorted space is shown in FIG. 5.

The navigation method of the present invention uses a combination ofzooming and fisheye distortion in order to facilitate navigation about adigital image, typically a large digital image, on a computer displayscreen 340. Several embodiments of the method are described in thefollowing. According to one embodiment of the invention, the GUI 400includes a navigation control element for implementing thesealternatives. The navigation control element may include an associatednavigation toolbar, pull-down menu, or pop-up dialog window or box (notshown) which may be displayed over or adjacent to the lens 410.

FIG. 6 is a screen capture illustrating a presentation 600 of a firstregion 601 of an original digital image or representation 650 inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention. The digital image 650shown in FIG. 6 is a digital map image. It often occurs that a user willbe zoomed-in to a region 601 of an image 650 in order to work on theirprimary task, be it editing, analysis, or some other task. At some pointthe user may need to navigate to a different part of the image 650 thatis not currently visible on the display 340. FIG. 6 shows the firstregion 601 before the navigation method of the present invention begins.

FIG. 7 is a screen capture illustrating a detail-in-context presentation700, having a detail-in-context fisheye lens 710, for the original image650 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Upon activatingthe navigation control element by selecting within an associatednavigation toolbar, pull-down menu, or pop-up dialog window or box (notshown), by pressing a key or key combination, by clicking a mousebutton, or by performing a similar operation, the user indicates to thesystem 300 his/her desire to navigate to a different part of theoriginal image 650. At this point, several steps are initiated. First,the view 600 of the first region 601 of the image 650 is zoomed-out sothat a larger portion 700 of the original image 600 is visible. Once thezooming-out is completed, what is presented on the display screen 340 isshown in FIG. 7.

Preferably, the zooming-out occurs in an animated fashion, with aplurality of animation frames smoothly linking the zoomed-in view 600and zoomed-out view 700. According to one embodiment of this step, theimage 600 is zoomed-out and repositioned so that it fits exactly in awindow 740. According to another embodiment of this step, the image 600is zoomed-out to a predetermined maximum scale. According to anotherembodiment of this step, as the image 600 is zoomed-out, a virtual point(e.g., 601) in the image under the cursor 401 will stay stationary underthe cursor 401.

The next step is the presentation of a fisheye distortion lens 710 onthe zoomed-out view 700. Preferably, the content of the focal region 720of the fisheye lens 710 is maintained at a constant scale as viewed onthe display 340. This requires the magnification of the lens 710 toincrease relative to regions outside of the lens as the zooming-outprogresses. Preferably, the size of the focal region 720 and the size ofthe lens bounds 712 remain constant as viewed on the display 340.According to one embodiment of the invention, the contents of the lens710 remain unchanged as the zooming-out process progresses. Thisrequires the lens 710 to change position relative to its originalposition as viewed on the display 340. According to another embodimentof the invention, the lens 710 remains stationary as viewed on thedisplay 340. This requires the content of the lens 710 to changerelative to its original content as the zooming-out progresses.According to another embodiment of the invention, as the lens 710 movesduring zooming-out, the cursor 401 is directed to follow the center ofthe lens 710.

As shown in FIG. 7, the user is thus provided with a zoomed-out largescale view 700 of the original image 650, with a lens 710 showingdetailed content for the first region 601, possibly at the scale of theoriginal zoomed-in view 600. At this point the user can move the lens710 around on the image 650 in order to locate a new region of interest701. Moving of the lens 710 is typically performed by moving a mouse310, with the lens 710 following the associated cursor 401, as describedabove.

FIG. 8 is a screen capture illustrating a detail-in-context presentation800 having a relocated fisheye lens 810 in accordance with an embodimentof the invention. Once the new region of interest 701 has been locatedby the user, and is presented in the center or focus 820 of the lens810, the user performs another action (e.g., releasing a key or mousebutton, pressing of another key or mouse button, etc.) to indicate tothe system 300 that a zoomed-in view of the new region of interest 701is to be presented. When this action is performed, several steps areinitiated and performed, again preferably in an animated fashion. First,a virtual image point (e.g., 701) at the center or focus 820 of the lens810 moves to the center of the display. Second, the image 800 iszoomed-in so that at the end of the zoom operation the magnificationlevel is the same as it was at the beginning of the navigation operation(i.e., at the level of FIG. 6). Third, as the zooming-in occurs, themagnification level of the lens 810 decreases so that the visual scalein the focal region 820 stays constant, and ultimately, the lens 810disappears from the presentation 800. Alternatively, the centering andzooming-in steps are performed simultaneously. Alternatively, thezooming-in may be performed interactively and may be stopped by the userat any time.

FIG. 9 is a screen capture illustrating a presentation 900 of a secondregion 701 of the original digital image or representation 650 inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention. At this point thenavigation operation has ended and the user is zoomed-in to a new region701 in the original image 650 and is ready to continue with whatevertask the user may wish to perform.

FIG. 10 is a screen capture illustrating a presentation 1000 having adetail-in-context lens 1010 and an associated GUI 400 for an originaldigital image 1050 in accordance with an alternate embodiment of theinvention. The original digital image 1050 shown in FIG. 10 is again adigital map image. Now, consider a user whose primary task involvesviewing the entire image or dataset 1050 and using the lens 1010 to viewand perhaps manipulate the data.

FIG. 11 is a screen capture illustrating a presentation 1100 of a firstzoomed-in region 1001 of the original digital image 1050 in accordancewith an alternate embodiment of the invention. The user may need tozoom-in to a region of interest 1001 that has been identified by thelens 1010. Upon activating the navigation control element by selectingwithin an associated navigation toolbar, pull-down menu, or pop-updialog window or box (not shown), by pressing a key or key combination,by clicking a mouse button, or by performing a similar operation, theuser indicates to the system 300 his/her desire to change views of theoriginal image 1050. As with the first embodiment described above, thischange in view can be performed in an animated fashion to show thechange and the relation between the two points of view. As the userzooms-in, the magnification of the lens 1010 is reduced relative to theregions outside the lens until the user is fully zoomed-in at which timethe lens 1010 is not visible. Thus, in the zoomed-in view 1100, the lens1010 is not presented and the scale of the data, once zoomed-in, isequal to the scale of the lens 1010 when zoomed-out (i.e., at the levelof the lens 1010 shown in FIG. 10).

FIG. 12 is a screen capture illustrating a presentation 1200 of a secondzoomed-in region 1002 of the original digital image 1050 in accordancewith an alternate embodiment of the invention. Once zoomed-in, the usercan operate on the data including panning around the data at the currentscale.

FIG. 13 is a screen capture illustrating a presentation 1300 having arelocated detail-in-context lens 1310 and an associated GUI 400 for thesecond zoomed-in region 1002 of the original digital image 1050 inaccordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention. Uponactivating the navigation control element by selecting within anassociated navigation toolbar, pull-down menu, or pop-up dialog windowor box (not shown), by pressing a key or key combination, by clicking amouse button, or by performing a similar operation, the user indicatesto the system 300 his/her desire to change views of the original image1050. As with the first embodiment described above, this change in viewcan be performed in an animated fashion to show the change and therelation between the two points of view. In this zoom-out however, thecurrent region of interest (i.e., what the user is currently viewing)1002 is used to fill the lens 1310. The centre of the region of interest1002 is placed at the centre of the lens 1310. A predetermined amount ofthe region of interest 1002 is used to fill the focal region 1320 of thelens 1310. And, the remaining amount of the region of interest 1002 isused to fill the shoulder 1330 of the lens 1310. Once the zoom-out iscompleted, as shown in FIG. 13, the user can control the lens 1310 usingthe GUI 400, as described above, and can operate on the data at thezoomed-out scale. Alternatively, the centering and zooming-out steps areperformed simultaneously. Alternatively, the zooming-out may beperformed interactively and may be stopped by the user at any time.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the zoom-in andzoon-out operations of the first and alternate embodiments describedabove can be taken one step further. After completing a zoom-inoperation, the user is allowed to pan and create a new lens. Once thenew lens is created, the process of zooming-in can be repeated. When theuser zooms-out, he/she can delete the newly created lenses, or leavethem, thus providing a pyramid-like presentation of lenses. At any pointof the zoomed-in or zoomed-out levels, the user is allowed to pan theimage and move the lens.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart 1400 illustrating a method for navigating acomputer generated original image 650 presented on a display screen 340in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. At step 1401, themethod starts.

At step 1402, a first region 601 of the original image 650 is displayed600 on the display screen 340.

At step 1403, the original image 650 is distorted to produce apresentation 700 having a distorted region 710 for the first region 601and the presentation 700 is displayed. Preferably, the displaying of thepresentation 700, 800 includes zooming-out to the scale of thepresentation 700, 800 from the scale of the first region 601.Preferably, the zooming-out is progressive. Preferably, the scale of thefocal region 720 remains constant during the zooming-out. Preferably,the distorting 1403 includes: establishing a lens surface 230 for thedistorted region 710, 810; and, transforming the original image 650 byapplying a distortion function defining the lens surface 230 to theoriginal image 650. Preferably, the transforming includes projecting thepresentation 700, 800 onto a plane 201. Preferably, the signal includesa location for the lens surface 230 within the original image 650.Preferably, the lens surface 230 includes a direction 231 for aperspective projection for the lens surface 230. Preferably, theestablishing further includes displaying a GUI 400 over the distortedregion 710, 810 for adjusting the lens surface 230 by the user with aninput device 310. Preferably, the lens surface 230 includes a focalregion 233 and a shoulder region 234 and the GUI 400 includes at leastone of: a slide bar icon 440 for adjusting a magnification for the lenssurface 230; a bounding rectangle icon 421 with at least one handle icon481, 482 for adjusting a size and a shape for the focal region 233; abounding rectangle icon 411 with at least one handle icon 491, 492 foradjusting a size and a shape for the shoulder region 234; a move icon460 for adjusting a location for the lens surface 230 within theoriginal image 650; a pickup icon 450 for adjusting a location for theshoulder region 234 within the original image 650; and, a fold icon 470for adjusting a location for the focal region 233 relative to theshoulder region 234. Preferably, the lens surface 230 is a fisheye lenssurface 510. Preferably, the original image 650 is a multi-dimensionalimage.

At step 1404, a signal is received from a user to select a second region701 of the original image 650 through the presentation 700. Preferably,the presentation 800 has a distorted region 810 for the second region701. Preferably, the distorted regions 710, 810 provide the user withdetailed information for the first and second regions 601, 701 of theoriginal image 650. Preferably, each distorted region 710, 810 includesa focal region 720, 820 for displaying a portion of the first and secondregions 601, 701 respectively.

At step 1405, the second region 701 is displayed 900. Preferably, thefirst region 601, the second region 701, each focal region 720, 820, andthe presentation 700, 800 are displayed at respective predeterminedscales. Preferably, the scales of the first region 601, the secondregion 701, and each focal region 720, 820 are greater than the scale ofthe presentation 700, 800. Preferably, the scales of the first region601, the second region 701, and each focal region 720, 820 areapproximately equal. Preferably, the step 1405 of displaying the secondregion 701 includes zooming-in to the scale of the second region 701from the scale of the presentation 700, 800. Preferably, the zooming-inis progressive. Preferably, the scale of the focal region 820 remainsconstant during the zooming-in.

At step 1406, the method ends.

The sequences of instructions which when executed cause the methoddescribed herein to be performed by the exemplary data processing system300 of FIG. 3 can be contained in a data carrier product according toone embodiment of the invention. This data carrier product can be loadedinto and run by the exemplary data processing system 300 of FIG. 3.

The sequences of instructions which when executed cause the methoddescribed herein to be performed by the exemplary data processing system300 of FIG. 3 can be contained in a computer software product accordingto one embodiment of the invention. This computer software product canbe loaded into and run by the exemplary data processing system 300 ofFIG. 3.

The sequences of instructions which when executed cause the methoddescribed herein to be performed by the exemplary data processing system300 of FIG. 3 can be contained in an integrated circuit productincluding a coprocessor or memory according to one embodiment of theinvention. This integrated circuit product can be installed in theexemplary data processing system 300 of FIG. 3.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been describedherein, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvariations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of theinvention or the scope of the appended claims.

1. A method for navigating a computer generated original image presentedon a display screen, comprising: displaying a first region of theoriginal image; distorting the original image to produce a presentationhaving a distorted region for the first region and displaying thepresentation; receiving a signal from a user to select a second regionof the original image through the presentation; and, displaying thesecond region.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the presentation has adistorted region for the second region.
 3. The method of claim 2 whereinthe distorted regions provide the user with detailed information for thefirst and second regions of the original image.
 4. The method of claim 2wherein each distorted region includes a focal region for displaying aportion of the first and second regions, respectively.
 5. The method ofclaim 4 wherein the first region, the second region, each focal region,and the presentation are displayed at respective predetermined scales.6. The method of claim 5 wherein the scales of the first region, thesecond region, and each focal region are greater than the scale of thepresentation.
 7. The method of claim 6 wherein the scales of the firstregion, the second region, and each focal region are at least one ofapproximately equal and user selected.
 8. The method of claim 7 whereinthe step of displaying the presentation includes zooming-out to thescale of the presentation from the scale of the first region.
 9. Themethod of claim 7 wherein the step of displaying the second regionincludes zooming-in to the scale of the second region from the scale ofthe presentation.
 10. The method of claim 8 wherein the zooming-out isat least one of progressive and interactive.
 11. The method of claim 9wherein the zooming-in is at least one of progressive and interactive.12. The method of claim 10 wherein the scale of the focal region remainsconstant during the zooming-out.
 13. The method of claim 11 wherein thescale of the focal region remains constant during the zooming-in. 14.The method of claim 1 wherein the distorting includes: establishing alens surface for the distorted region; and, transforming the originalimage by applying a distortion function defining the lens surface to theoriginal image.
 15. The method of claim 14 wherein the transformingincludes projecting the presentation onto a plane.
 16. The method ofclaim 14 wherein the signal includes a location for the lens surfacewithin the original image.
 17. The method of claim 14 wherein the lenssurface includes a direction for a perspective projection for the lenssurface.
 18. The method of claim 14 wherein the establishing furtherincludes displaying a graphical user interface (“GUI”) over thedistorted region for adjusting the lens surface by the user with aninput device.
 19. The method of claim 18 wherein the lens surfaceincludes a focal region and a shoulder region and the GUI includes atleast one of: at least one icon for adjusting the lens surface; a slidebar icon for adjusting a magnification for the lens surface; a boundingrectangle icon with at least one handle icon for adjusting a size and ashape for the focal region; a bounding rectangle icon with at least onehandle icon for adjusting a size and a shape for the shoulder region; amove icon for adjusting a location for the lens surface within theoriginal image; a pickup icon for adjusting a location for the shoulderregion within the original image; and, a fold icon for adjusting alocation for the focal region relative to the shoulder region.
 20. Themethod of claim 14 wherein the lens surface is a fisheye lens surface.21. The method of claim 1 wherein the original image is amulti-dimensional image.
 22. A method for navigating a computergenerated original image presented on a display, comprising: displayingan original image; receiving a signal from a user to select a region ofthe original image; distorting the original image to produce apresentation having a distorted region for the region of the originalimage and displaying the presentation; and, displaying the region of theoriginal image.
 23. The method of claim 22 wherein the distorted regionprovides the user with detailed information for the region of theoriginal image selected by the user.
 24. The method of claim 22 whereinthe distorted region includes a focal region for displaying a portion ofthe region of the original image.
 25. The method of claim 24 wherein theoriginal image, the region of the original image, the focal region, andthe presentation are displayed at respective predetermined scales. 26.The method of claim 25 wherein the scales of the focal region and theregion of the original image are greater than the scale of the originalimage.
 27. The method of claim 26 wherein the scales of the focal regionand the region of the original image are at least one of approximatelyequal and user selected.
 28. The method of claim 27 wherein the step ofdisplaying the region of the original image includes zooming-in to thescale of the focal region from the scale of the original image.
 29. Themethod of claim 28 wherein the zooming-in is at least one of progressiveand interactive.
 30. The method of claim 29 wherein the scale of thefocal region remains constant during the zooming-in.
 31. The method ofclaim 22 wherein the distorting includes: establishing a lens surfacefor the distorted region; and, transforming the original image byapplying a distortion function defining the lens surface to the originalimage.
 32. The method of claim 31 wherein the transforming includesprojecting the presentation onto a plane.
 33. The method of claim 31wherein the signal includes a location for the lens surface within theoriginal image.
 34. The method of claim 31 wherein the lens surfaceincludes a direction for a perspective projection for the lens surface.35. The method of claim 31 wherein the establishing further includesdisplaying a graphical user interface (“GUI”) over the distorted regionfor adjusting the lens surface by the user with an input device.
 36. Themethod of claim 35 wherein the lens surface includes a focal region anda shoulder region and the GUI includes at least one of: at least oneicon for adjusting the lens surface; a slide bar icon for adjusting amagnification for the lens surface; a bounding rectangle icon with atleast one handle icon for adjusting a size and a shape for the focalregion; a bounding rectangle icon with at least one handle icon foradjusting a size and a shape for the shoulder region; a move icon foradjusting a location for the lens surface within the original image; apickup icon for adjusting a location for the shoulder region within theoriginal image; and, a fold icon for adjusting a location for the focalregion relative to the shoulder region.
 37. The method of claim 31wherein the lens surface is a fisheye lens surface.
 38. The method ofclaim 22 wherein the original image is a multi-dimensional image.
 39. Amethod for navigating a computer generated original image presented on adisplay, comprising: displaying a region of an original image; receivinga signal from a user to select the original image; distorting theoriginal image to produce a presentation having a distorted region forthe region of the original image and displaying the presentation; and,displaying the original image.
 40. The method of claim 39 wherein thedistorted region provides the user with detailed information for theregion of the original image.
 41. The method of claim 39 wherein thedistorted region includes a focal region for displaying a portion of theregion of the original image.
 42. The method of claim 41 wherein theoriginal image, the region of the original image, the focal region, andthe presentation are displayed at respective predetermined scales. 43.The method of claim 42 wherein the scales of the focal region and theregion of the original image are greater than the scale of the originalimage.
 44. The method of claim 43 wherein the scales of the focal regionand the region of the original image are at least one of approximatelyequal and user selected.
 45. The method of claim 44 wherein the step ofdisplaying the original image includes zooming-out to the scale of theoriginal image from the scale of the focal region.
 46. The method ofclaim 45 wherein the zooming-out is at least one of progressive andinteractive.
 47. The method of claim 46 wherein the scale of the focalregion remains constant during the zooming-out.
 48. The method of claim39 wherein the distorting includes: establishing a lens surface for thedistorted region; and, transforming the original image by applying adistortion function defining the lens surface to the original image. 49.The method of claim 48 wherein the transforming includes projecting thepresentation onto a plane.
 50. The method of claim 48 wherein the signalincludes a location for the lens surface within the original image. 51.The method of claim 48 wherein the lens surface includes a direction fora perspective projection for the lens surface.
 52. The method of claim48 wherein the establishing further includes displaying a graphical userinterface (“GUI”) over the distorted region for adjusting the lenssurface by the user with an input device.
 53. The method of claim 52wherein the lens surface includes a focal region and a shoulder regionand the GUI includes at least one of: at least one icon for adjustingthe lens surface; a slide bar icon for adjusting a magnification for thelens surface; a bounding rectangle icon with at least one handle iconfor adjusting a size and a shape for the focal region; a boundingrectangle icon with at least one handle icon for adjusting a size and ashape for the shoulder region; a move icon for adjusting a location forthe lens surface within the original image; a pickup icon for adjustinga location for the shoulder region within the original image; and, afold icon for adjusting a location for the focal region relative to theshoulder region.
 54. The method of claim 48 wherein the lens surface isa fisheye lens surface.
 55. The method of claim 39 wherein the originalimage is a multi-dimensional image.